Sheltair Aviation lands in Colorado
Business jets and recreational fliers now have a second choice when seeking that Rocky Mountain high. National fixed-based operator (FBO) Sheltair Aviation just opened its temporary facility at Colorado’s fourth-busiest airfield—Rocky Mountain Metropolitan Airport.
In its three-decade history, Sheltair Aviation has set up multiple locations along the Eastern Seaboard, but its new Colorado facility is its first in the West. The aviation company plans to build a $12 million full-service facility on the field, putting it in competition with current leaseholder, Signature Flight Support.
Located between rapidly growing cities Boulder and Denver, Rocky Mountain Metropolitan Airport has seen an increase in traffic over the last few years. Along with the addition of Sheltair Aviation, the airport has four flight schools; Swiss aircraft manufacturer Pilatus Aircraft recently completed a 120,000-square-foot facility at the airport.
In September, the airport announced its intention to add a second FBO to drive down costs and improve GA services, prompting AOPA to remove the field from its Airport Access Watch List.
Rocky Mountain Airport Director Paul Anslow said he was excited about Sheltair Aviation's presence on the field. “The opening of a second FBO is critical to the airport's vision and creating a competitive environment where all aspects of aviation win. RMMA wishes both of our FBOs great success," he said.
Sheltair Aviation is already doing its part to strengthen the flight experience for GA pilots with an online fuel pricing request form. The transparency aligns with what AOPA and other major industry organizations are calling the “Know Before You Go” best business practices for FBOs to ensure reasonable airport accessibility.
Future plans for the new facility include a 10,000-square-foot terminal, a new Avfuel-supplied fuel farm, and a 35,000-square-foot hangar capable of sheltering the latest large-cabin business jets, which are anticipated to open in the first quarter of 2020.
